On 24 February, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” would be carried out in Ukraine, as he ordered Russian military forces to cross the Russian-Ukrainian border.

In the days since, according to the United Nations, at least 1 million civilians have fled the country as a result of the invasion. However, the European Union estimates that up to four million people could be displaced, potentially causing one of the worst humanitarian crises in history.

The Ukrainian government and its population have appealed to the international community to provide aid and support during the ongoing invasion. As the fighting escalates, aid and essential items such as medical and food supplies are becoming increasingly important.

Across the coffee sector, a number of brands and organisations have established fundraisers and projects to help people in Ukraine. We’ve listed a few of them below:

• The Specialty Coffee Association will donate 100% of the revenue from ticket sales for World of Coffee Warsaw to support Ukrainian coffee businesses and professionals.
  • SCA Poland and SCA Czech Republic are offering support to displaced Ukrainians, including transportation, housing, and employment opportunities.
• Coffee design company Department of Brewology will donate proceeds of sales from its “Make Coffee Not War” prints to the International Rescue Committee, who are providing food, medical care, and emergency supplies to Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
• The Art of Coffee in Dublin is collecting emergency equipment and medical supplies to send to Ukraine.
• Cloud Picker Coffee Roasters in Dublin is holding a raffle with three prizes (including a Victoria Arduino White Eagle Digit espresso machine). All proceeds from the raffle will be donated to Unicef to support Ukrainian children. The roaster is also offering two free plane tickets from Poland to Dublin for Ukrainian refugees, as well as employment opportunities.
• Dazbog Coffee in the US will donate US $3 of every purchase of its Svoboda Freedom blend to the International Committee of the Red Cross, who are currently providing aid to the Ukrainian population.
• Polish roaster Hard Beans Coffee are collecting food supplies, clothing, and cooking utensils to distribute across Ukraine.
• Education platform Global Calibration will host the world’s largest international coffee training event on 29 April. All proceeds of ticket sales will be donated to a local aid organisation of SCA Ukraine’s choosing.
• County Wicklow roaster McCabe’s Coffee will donate all profits from online sales on 7 March to the Irish Red Cross Ukraine appeal.
• Bell Lane Coffee in Westmeath, Ireland will donate 100% of sales of its Colombian Los Alpes coffee to Unicef.
• Coffee subscription service The Coffee Vine is providing a list of contacts for several humanitarian organisations and fundraisers, including support for LGBTQ+ people in Ukraine. The Coffee Vine is also running a GoFundMe campaign for Michal Brzozowski, who is providing immediate aid and support at the Polish border.
• Curious Roo Coffee Roasters in London will donate all sales of online retail coffee bags to non-profit CARE, which will directly support the people of Ukraine.
• Kawiarnia Powidoki in Koszalin, Poland has organised several fundraisers and donation collections.
• Brandy Wine Coffee Roasters in Wilmington, Delaware is selling a limited edition coffee of which all proceeds will be donated to the International Rescue Committee for aid in Ukraine.
• Java Coffee Roasters in Warsaw is donating 5% of all online sales to support in Polish Humanitarian Action organisation in providing emergency aid.
• Coffee Desk in Warsaw will donate 10% of sales from several Polish roasteries from its online store to numerous humanitarian efforts.
• Wild Child Coffee Co. in Coweta, Oklahoma is donating 25% of all proceeds to the non-profit Ebenezer, who are providing support to Ukrainians.
• Woodland Coffee Shop in Brentwood, UK is collecting food, clothing, and toiletries for donation.
• Chipp Coffee Co. in Leeds, UK is selling “Stand with Ukraine Charity Coffee”. All proceeds will be donated to a Ukrainian fundraising charity.
• London roaster Dark Arts Coffee is donating £2 (US $2.64) from every purchase of its fundraising coffee to support Ukrainian refugees. The roaster has also raised over £16,000 (US $21,100) through additional donations.
• Online coffee store BEDST is donating 100% of sales from its lucky dip fundraiser to GlobalGiving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, which is supporting humanitarian efforts in the country.
• Clever Coffee in Aarhus, Denmark is running several donation campaigns for World Central Kitchen, which is currently providing food for displaced Ukrainians.
• Berlin roaster 19grams is collecting donations from sales of its Wild at Heart blend to support Ukrainian refugees in the German capital.

There are also many wider initiatives and donation campaigns in place to provide further support for the people of Ukraine.

The ongoing invasion of Ukraine presents much uncertainty for the future of the country. If you work directly with anyone currently in Ukraine, we encourage you to show your support and ask them if there’s anything you can do to help.

We will also continue to update this list as more fundraisers and initiatives emerge in the coming days.

Perfect Daily Grind